bumpin up onto the pad ----planing----

[wv native]

First, i have a 04' 285xl w/ 150 vmax -- 7" jackplate-- powertech 4blade 23p --that gets 61 gps. My friend has a triton 186 w/ 150 johnson and bacially the same setup. When i ride in his boat and he is planning out, you can feel it jump up "so to speek" on to what he calls the boats pad. question is, should i be feelin this in my stratos boat when i am full throdle? Any1 know about this? i want to get the most preformance.




Modified by wv native at 1:08 PM 1/26/2008

[21XDC]

You need a 3 blade 24 tempest+ or a 25M pro series to try.. You will need a bigger prop than your bud because he has 1.86 gears and you have 2.0 gears. The larger diameter will carry the bow better and "pop up" the bow.... You should feel it. A 23 TXP would work nice also.

[Lockjaw]

My boat has a very distinct hop onto the pad as well.

You should notice it around 45 to 50. That is where mine does it. I net if you trim your engine up a lilte over half way and run along from about 30 mph and accelerate, you will feel it lift as your speed increases.

[wv native]

my buddys boat is verry noticable getting onto the pad when reaching the low 50's.. My stratos i dont notice it at all. Do u think my getting onto pad is so suddle i cant nitice. I would think i could get better MPH'S. As for the props im somewhat a newby is a 23-- 24-- 25 and so on the outer diameter of the prop and what is the "M" and Tempest and TXP.

[285XL]

23-24-25, is what "pitch" the prop is. "Tempest" is a 3 blade Mercury prop, "M" is a pro series 3 blade Yamaha prop, and "TXP" is a Turbo prop(3 and 4 blade available in the TXP).

I have almost the same exact setup you have. I prefer the overall performance of the 23 TRO4 over the others I have tried. there is one thing, the TRO4's I have tried(23, 24, 25)and the M series I have tried(23, 25), run the best with the prop shaft center 4" below the pad of the boat. Most boats run the shaft 3-1/2'' below or higher. I don't get the "bump" either with the TRO4 but I feel like it lifts the boat better from holeshot through wide open throttle better than the 23M which is my second choice of prop.
Try the TRO4 at 4" below the pad. You never know, it might work better or it may not. You wont know till you try!

Chris Watson
2007 285XL
150 VMAX
23TRO4
62mph @ 5800rpm




Modified by 285XL at 4:45 PM 1/26/2008


Modified by 285XL at 4:46 PM 1/26/2008


Modified by 285XL at 4:46 PM 1/26/2008


Modified by 285XL at 4:49 PM 1/26/2008

[Lockjaw]

Triton's have a different pad set up then your hull too.

On my old boat, the pad lifting was very noticeable with a raker, not so much with a 4 blade prop.

I like the TR04 too. I run a 25P one on my boat. I was getting 66 on the speedo at 5200, and it was low. I raised it some so next time out we will see what it does.

You need to experiment with some props, or have yours worked. You can get some extra lift built into it, which might make it more noticeable when it gets up on the pad.

Most tests I have seen on your hull show it running low 60's so if you are there, then be happy.

[wv native]

Do u know who makes the TRO4? I need a spare prop anyhow. Definitely consider on buyin one. My hole shot i think is great but i max rpm out around 5700, might have to go hydrotech to get more boat out of the water0. All in good favor, i love my stratos. "Thanks for the input.

[Glenn_S]

I have a 23M and a 23 TXP. I prefere the TXP. Better holeshot and it carries the bow higher. I can also feel it pop on pad.

My rig is the same as yours, but a 2003. It was the changeover year from the 185 to the 285.

[wv native]

can u feel it pop up on the pad with both props or just the TXP.

[fastman151]

Josh...What is your prop shaft to pad height??

[wv native]

fastman i dont now exactly. I will measure it today and post it. To get more boat out of the water do i adjust it down.

[285XL]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wv native &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do u know who makes the TRO4? I need a spare prop anyhow. Definitely consider on buyin one. My hole shot i think is great but i max rpm out around 5700, might have to go hydrotech to get more boat out of the water0. All in good favor, i love my stratos. "Thanks for the input. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Power Tech makes the TRO4 (4 blade). I assumed that is what you have now. It will be stamped on the barrel of the prop.

You keep raising the motor 1/4" at a time until you: lose adequate water pressure(12psi min), gain rpm but speed stays the same or drops, or you lose bow lift, then drop it back down 1/4''-1/2''.

I started at 3-1/2" and went up from there. I was really frustrated because I was getting decent top end but everything else was crap.

Here was my senario: After coming out of the hole the boat would run flat until about 50-55mph and then I got the "bump" and the bow would finally rise. The steering torque is now terrible(takes 3 hands to turn left). If I would let off the throttle the slighest amount and give it throttle again(slightly or stomp it) the bow would drop for a few seconds and then rise again. Also, sometimes the bow would drop in a left hand turn on occasion.

This is when I decided to start experimenting at more than 3-1/2'' below the pad. To my surprise all the above mentioned problems went away. I have no idea why most boats including this model run 3-1/2" or higher, mine just simply doesn't like it. I have measured, and re-measured and I am dead on 4" below the pad. Hope this helps!

Oh yea, at 4", I don't get the "bump" anymore but the bow lift and speed are still there. I think the bump I was feeling was when the prop finally stop slipping so bad and finally bit the water. Maybe, maybe not.


Modified by 285XL at 7:59 AM 1/27/2008


Modified by 285XL at 8:00 AM 1/27/2008


Modified by 285XL at 8:09 AM 1/27/2008

[wv native]

Hey 285 thinks for the info. After looking again at my prop, it is a tro4. Im some-what new at tweaking a boat---my first boat, but as soon as the weather warms i will lower my jackplate to 4" below the pad and try. love my 285, and the forms ive read about h-techin the yama out i would love it even more. I just thought my boat should feel the pad like my buddys triton. The hulls between the boats are more different than i realize. again thinks for the experienced info.